Seen & Heard on Planet Coug

the staff of Cougfan.com

10/18/2011

SEATTLE -- After reviewing film of Washington State's game with Stanford, Cougar head coach Paul Wulff concluded that the battle between WSU junior defensive end Travis Long and Stanford junior left tackle Jonathan "Moose" Martin was a true clash of titans. It was nothing less than "a war," Wulff said. Martin is expected to be a top 10 pick in April's NFL draft if he chooses to leave school early.

Wulff had high praise for Long on Monday at a luncheon gathering of Cougar fans near the Seattle waterfront. Long is a two-time honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection known for a nasty disposition when the ball his snapped.

Long had two tackles Saturday and three times he hit quarterback Andrew Luck just as a pass left his hand. Luck has been sacked just once this entire season. Long was named by WSU coaches as the team's defensive player of the week.

Robinson, making his first collegiate start, did a "darn good" job, Wulff said. So did fellow freshman Chester Su'a, who made his first start at linebacker. Su'a collected four tackles and also forced (and recovered) a fumble. Wulff predicts that Su'a will be a Pac-12 star one day.

TWO MORE MEMBERS OF THE Cougar defensive line -- ends Adam Coerper and Lenard Williams -- will be back in action this weekend against Oregon State. Coerper has been out since the San Diego State game with a knee and Williams missed last week with a bad neck.

Of the top 11 players in the Cougars' corps of defensive linemen this season, only Rankin is a senior. Moreover, there's a load of D-line talent that's redshirting this season, including Ian Knight, David Davis and Xavier Cooper. Cooper, by the way, was the defensive scout team player of the week in the run-up to the Stanford game.

Next season, said Wulff, with another year of growth behind them, he believes the Cougar defensive line could be the finest in the Pac-12.

ASKED AT THE LUNCH WHY the Cougars rarely pass to the tight end, Wulff said the answer is simple: Andrei Lintz has been the only able-bodied tight end on the roster. Aaron Dunn has been slowed by a leg injury, former walk on QB Gordy Anderson is brand new to the position and freshmen Max Hersey and Mansel Simmons are redshirting. With just one body, it doesn't make sense to build part of the offense around the position because if that guy gets hurt you've negated the value of a lot of practice time, the coach said. However, things may be changing soon, because Dunn is now close to 100 percent.

MORE THAN 12,000 VOTES were registered in WSU's poll asking fans to decide which uniforms the Cougars would wear against Stanford. Cougar play-by-play man Bob Robertson made no bones about the fact he didn't like the gray jerseys because he couldn't make out the numbers clearly.

"I don't think he can see the numbers regardless of what color we're wearing," joked WSU athletic director Bill Moos at the luncheon. Moos quickly added that he loves BobRob and says the 80-plus-year-old legend will stay in the booth as long as he wants. Moos said the aim with the jerseys is to make them attractive to the 17- and 18-year-old kids on the recruiting trail. "We're going to keep 'em." He also noted that the Cougars may do something a little different with uniforms this weekend against Oregon State.

FOR MORE INSIGHTS FROM from Wulff and Moos, click to the CF.C luxury message board for
CF.C BLOG: 10 QUICK HITS. Topics range from Jim Harbaugh to the expected attendance at CenturyLink on Saturday.

NOTABLE NOTE: Cougar great Mkristo Bruce, now a proud member of the team at Stadium Nissan, is offering Cougar fans a whale of a deal this Saturday. For $47.95, you can park your car there for the game and when you return the car will be washed and vaccumed, plus your oil and filter will be changed. To book your spot, call 206-623-1261.